CSO figures show drop in Live Register numbers

New figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show there were 6,600 fewer people signing on in September and there was a decrease in those signing on under the professional and technical group.

The research found that in seasonally adjusted terms, the numbers signing on the Live Register fell by 6,600 to 429,553 in October – following a similar decline in September and marking the first time that the Live Register has fallen in two consecutive months since early 2007.

Annually, there was an increase in the numbers on the register of 4.2pc between October 2010 and the corresponding month last year.

The monthly figures may appear to have decreased but the research also found that emigration may be helping to limit the unemployment rate, as people seek work outside of Ireland.

All occupational groups showed monthly register decreases in October, with the largest percentage decrease in the associate professional and technical groups (-6.5pc), followed by the professional groups (-5.4pc).